Mail-in Ballot Procedures September 2018

League of Women Voters Alerts Public of Important Mail-in Ballot Procedures

September 2018

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey informs all citizens that there have been important changes to the mail-in ballot process. Recent legislation, effective immediately, impacts this upcoming November General Election. Voters might have received time sensitive notification in the mail from their county clerk that they should not ignore.

The most time sensitive change impacts voters who applied for a mail-in ballot for the 2016 General Election. These voters will be moved to a list of voters that will receive mail-in ballots for all future elections, including for this upcoming November election, unless they inform their county clerk otherwise, in writing, by Friday, September 14, 2018. These voters should have received notification in the mail explaining this change and instructing them on how to notify their county clerk.

If these voters do not tell their county clerk that they do not wish to receive a mail-in ballot, they will automatically be sent one for the November General Election. They can vote using that ballot, or they may vote at the polls on Election Day using a provisional ballot. They will not be allowed to vote on the machine on Election Day.

Other changes allow for voters to request mail-in ballots for all future elections and to apply for mail-in ballots at the same time they register to vote. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received by the County Board of Elections no later than 48 hours after the close of polls. Ballots returned in person must be received by the close of polls on Election Day. There have been no changes to application deadlines.